Playing smarter is goal of UW backs

Updated 10:00 pm, Tuesday, April 24, 2007

When was the last time the Washington secondary instilled fear in opponents? When were vicious blows to opposing receivers the norm, not sweet surprises? When were interceptions part of the plan, not merely lucky breaks?

Lewis doesn't know that the 1999 Huskies were the last UW team to have more interceptions (14) than touchdown passes allowed (12).

He doesn't know that in 2000, with Anthony Vontoure and Chris Massey at the corners and bone-crunching safeties Hakim Akbar and Curtis Williams intimidating receivers, the Huskies allowed just 207.9 passing yards per game and only a 47.4 completion percentage -- the lowest since the national championship team in 1991.

Of course, if he looked, Lewis could find answers to those questions in a media guide.

But the questions that still stump the Huskies cornerback are the ones to be figured out on the field.

"We're here to answer any question you have," Lewis said. "We want to set the record straight and not just let people assume things. We're trying to answer all the questions people have about the secondary."

Easier said than done.

Secondary coach J.D. Williams -- the late Curtis Williams' older brother -- came to Washington two seasons ago from Cal, where he helped develop All-America cornerback Daymeion Hughes and safety Matt Giordano, who plays for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

Lewis says Williams is the best teacher of technique he has encountered, but the pupils are still trying to grasp concepts.

"He teaches us fundamentals, but it's the concepts he stresses, and we need to be smarter football players," said Lewis, a senior. "It's really just a matter of getting smart and getting our hands on some footballs."

Lewis is the veteran in a thin secondary. He has just one interception in more than a season as a starter and is the first to admit too many opportunities have -- literally -- slipped through his hands.

"Getting interceptions and making plays is just a matter of catching the ball. We have to capitalize on those opportunities because they don't happen that often," he said.

Last year, Washington had 10 interceptions. Only Stanford had fewer in the Pac-10, with seven.

The Huskies ranked eighth in the conference, allowing 240.1 passing yards per game, while opposing quarterbacks completed 61.3 percent of their passes. (Only quarterbacks facing Arizona had an easier time, completing 61.7 percent.)

While those numbers don't fall exclusively on the secondary, no one is shedding responsibility to better them.

"We have to improve on everything," junior strong safety Mesphin Forrester said. Technique, concepts, speed -- all of it -- he said. And numbers, too.

There are six defensive backs on scholarship in spring practice.

Of those, only Forrester, free safety Jason Wells and Lewis have game experience. Forrester's backup, Darin Harris, hasn't played in a year because of a back injury.

The unit is so thin that walk-ons Jay Angotti and Desmond Davis are getting so many repetitions they are looking like real playmakers.

Slated to arrive in August is Bryon Davenport, a UCLA transfer expected to step in at the corner opposite Lewis.

Four freshmen defensive backs will come to fall camp and could work their way up.

"The word for our secondary is 'productivity,' " coach Tyrone Willingham said. "It's time for them to be productive back there. We have to come up with interceptions. We have to come up with batted balls and big plays. That's something we really haven't done."